Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing mounting pressure from his own party as the House prepares to vote on a $1.2 trillion federal spending bill to avert a government shutdown. The bill, which includes funding for the remaining six annual federal spending bills, has drawn criticism from some GOP lawmakers who believe it does not go far enough in securing the border and addressing other conservative priorities.
One of the most notable signs of dissent within the Republican ranks came from outgoing Colorado congressman Ken Buck, who became the first GOP lawmaker to sign a Democrats' discharge petition that aims to bypass Johnson and force a vote on a $95 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The package, which has already been passed by the Senate, has been stalled in the House due to Johnson's refusal to allow a vote.
Buck's support for the Democrats' petition, which currently stands at 188 signatures and needs 218 to pass, highlights the growing divisions within the Republican Party over Johnson's leadership. With the GOP holding a razor-thin majority in the House, Johnson's position as speaker is precarious, as a single lawmaker could file a motion to vacate after Buck leaves office, potentially leading to Johnson's removal if just three GOP lawmakers and all House Democrats support the motion.
Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has also lashed out against Johnson, suggesting that she is "done" with the House speaker over his support for the spending bill. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Greene criticized the bill for not doing enough to secure the border and described the GOP's House majority as a "complete failure."
"We have the power of the purse, which means we can control what the entire government does. Tomorrow Speaker Johnson is funding the government that has created this invasion. I'm voting NO," Greene wrote. "We need a Speaker of the House who will fight to secure America's border at all cost! Not one that passes a trillion dollar Democrat wish list that continues the border invasion, funds the weaponized government, and breaks our own conference rules. I'm done with this one."
The hardline House Freedom Caucus also voiced opposition to the spending bill, which they described as a "Johnson-Schumer-Biden" bill in a statement. The caucus criticized the bill for being presented to members less than 36 hours before the vote, breaking the House Rule that requires members to have 72 hours to review major legislation.
As the House prepares to vote on the spending bill, Johnson faces a tight timeline to secure enough votes to pass the legislation and avoid a government shutdown. With some GOP lawmakers threatening to vote against the bill and progressives expressing concerns over provisions that withhold funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Johnson will need to rely on votes from both Democrats and Republicans to get the bill across the finish line.
The current situation echoes the challenges faced by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in a historic motion to vacate last October after negotiating with Democrats to push through a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown. McCarthy's fate has raised questions over whether Johnson could face a similar threat to his speakership, although many Republicans have expressed their desire to avoid another speaker's race given the intense infighting and chaos triggered by McCarthy's removal.
As lawmakers race against the clock to pass the spending bill before the Friday midnight deadline, the outcome of the vote will have significant implications not only for the government's continued operations but also for the future of Republican leadership in the House. The growing dissent within the GOP ranks and the willingness of some lawmakers to break ranks and support Democratic initiatives underscore the deep divisions and challenges facing the party as it navigates a narrow majority and competing priorities.
